I Love This Rock December 2016 by I Love This Rock

events | music | BARS | food | Life FREE TAKE ! M HOM E E!

decem ber 20 16

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advent calendar blood & Cash carols christmas gifts celebrations ice skating -1-

December 2016

Dive like a fish. Like a GFish Reach for more. Get your PADI from the best gfishbarbados.com +1(246)287-5289

December 2016

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The Christmas Issue December 2016 | Issue 9

Editor’s Note editor@ilovethisrock.com

Contents 4 Taste this

Sahara, Rum Punch, ArtSplash, Primo, Mount Gay, 13/59.

8 Mazda Test Drive

We make the smallest and the biggest Bajans we know test a car the size of Tobago.

10 What's On

Carols by Candlelight, Carols at the Abbey, Ice Skating, Classical Pops, Paddle Board Barbados, Mojos turns 18, Enchanted Light Forest, Mahalia's Christmas Corner, Rum & Koke.

12 Advent Calendar

We give you a little bit of Christmas Magic every day running up to the 25th.

16 Blood & Cash

We interview Blood from Square One on his youth and the route he took to stardom.

19 How to celebrate

A breakdown of where the sexy people are celebrating this year.

22 Made Right Here

Some of the best Christmassy things you can get that have roots right here.

Well that was fun! 2016 felt amazing for a lot of people at the very beginning. It felt as though everything was possible. Today, there is unanimous devastation in the air. We haven't met a person who hasn't described the past twelve months as some of the most taxing. Yet the way we chose to describe it is a little different to that. It's the year in which everything happened. Scientific studies tell us that we weight negative events more heavily than positive ones so is it possible that 2016 was a positive year but we just got bogged down in the ugly? Fidel Castro refused to die before the collapse of the US and now that Trump has been voted in Castro feels he has fulfilled his promise. Brexit was massively racist and will test all politicians' economic prowess. We had Zika and Ebola. There were the bombings in Brussels and the shooter in Munich. Then there were the Paris shootings and the Nice lorry that drove through thousands of pedestrians. What about the failed military coup in Turkey and Erdogan's continued and bulging dominance in politics? North Korea claimed that it successfully tested an H-Bomb. Hurricane Matthew came and went only to destroy Cuba and Haiti. All of this on a continued backdrop of Syria's destruction, Iraq's ever-lasting fight for freedom, Afghanistan's free elections that aren't so free and even the X-Files declared that they were making a comeback after thirteen years. If you had lived this whole year without reading any news we bet you wouldn't think 2016 was such a bad year. Most of our worrying came from the endless rhetoric of politics. In my humble opinion we have three things in life. The here, the now and each other. I firmly believe in living in the moment and when I put my phone down to look around, just the colour palette that surrounds us is enough to remind me how beautiful life is. But here we are in a world where we have to get stuck in traffic, fight for drinking water, shout about potholes and feel that we're being pulled apart by our own government's failures. The next time you kiss your loved one good night, look at them in the eyes. Realise just what they mean to you and what you have achieved through thick and thin. Think about how long and diverse their life has been even before your relationship and spend one second wondering what it would be like if everyone in the world, at the same time, understood just how beautiful life is here, now and together. It's all we truly have.

Merry Christmas from the Rocks and Rockettes.

proudly printed in Barbados All rights reserved. Nothing from this publication may be reproduced, even in part, without prior written approval from I Love This Rock. All the information provided is correct to our best knowledge at the time of print.

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Special thanks to you, the public, for reading and for your feedback. Thank you Joelle for your endless support and encouragement because without you this would have never happened. Mum & Dad, brothers and sisters whom I love very much, our pet Labrador who is dead but would have loved Barbados, Mr G for teaching me everything I know, Jason & Sarah from Paddle Barbados for your invaluable advice and encouragement, David Lewis for all those creams and ointments, Dr Batford for sewing my hand back up, Pub Quiz Master Terry for letting us play at the Golden Anchor with a 4-person team of 12-people for months, the girls at Raw Juice who make my day every day, that guy who told me that double glazing made him a millionaire, that couple who gave me a lift to Moontown one evening when I was really late, the really tall angry security guard at Accra who patrols at night wearing sunglasses to look extra cool even though it means he can’t see anything, Stephen Clarke for writing 1000 Years of Annoying the French, Alexandra for the silicon side-boob that I carry around in my rucksack, Mr Delicious Bar for scaring the cr*p out of me by tapping me on the shoulder in Sugar one night saying “Hey, it’s me, Mr Delicious”, the pilot on Caribbean Airlines who wouldn’t let me out when we made an emergency landing in Barbados but instead flew me to TnT so I could catch a connection back to Barbados again and laughed about it to the whole plane on the PA system and finally all my closest friends in Barbados... Especially all those people who added me on Facebook and then confronted me the next day for not having accepted their friend-request fast enough. I am positive I’ve forgotten someone so you too. Thank you.

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December 2016

taste this sahara

There are only a handful of places that serve middle-eastern food so once you've found one you can ask if you've found the right one. We're pretty sure this is the right one. Most days you will find Daddy Sahara with one of his two sons serving up platters and kebabs that are spot-on. The comedy in all of this is that it's called Sahara even though they're not from Egypt. The truth is, had they named it after anything else in the middle-east (except maybe Kandahar or Baghdad) you probably might not understand the name. But Sahara it is and middle-eastern food it definitely is. Food in the entire region varies wildly but the original dishes all came from Syria thousands of years ago. This style? This is like the Syrian recipes. You can't get more authentic than this. All of the ingredients are excellent and the spices and herbs are perfect. It's a genuine grandma's-recipe restaurant. In fact, the owner's wife makes the flatbread from scratch... Not because flatbread doesn't exist here... But because hers is much better. When you come at lunch you will always have a buzz of people who chat to the owners as they prepare your food. They have laid out a few tables so you can eat there comfortably and they've got a juicer so you can have freshly-juiced juices. Just going to say it one more time. Juice. Bayside Plaza near the Radisson

drink this Mike's Fresh Rum Punch

There has always been a big hullabaloo about who makes the best rumpunch so we're going to say that everyone else got it wrong and we're the only one who know the truth (relax yourself, it's just an opinion... the best opinion). Amongst us, Rocks and Rockettes in the office, this is an outstanding rum-punch. Everyone we tasted it with agrees. So there. As the saying goes one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak... We realised that instead of using water or ice as weak, the best weak we could use was a different rum-punch. It was the best accident... Ever. So find a second rum punch of your choosing and use it to dilute Mike's Rum Punch. And this is why we believe it's the best rum-punch. It's so alive that the idea of mere water or ice is sacrilegious. One nice touch that we loved was how every bottle comes with a nutmeg attached to it. Fresh. Just like you want it. Mike is hilarious and he'll deliver the bottles to your front door for you. Otherwise keep your eyes peeled because it has started turning up in the usual spots. Around $30, Deliveries: +1(246)252-8884 December 2016

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Go here Sunday Brunch 2.0 at ArtSplash

ArtSplash regularly shape and reshape everything that they do and now every Sunday they serve up the Sunday Brunch we always wanted. Billy is bringing in a jazz band to play from 10-1 so those eggs and avocado on toast go down nicely. The kids area around the back is being armed to the teeth with inflatable bouncy castles and face-painting because having a gigantic play area wasn't enough... So three words. Sit back, kick up, eat and be merry (ok eight words). To celebrate the launch there will be Bloody Mary's on tap. It's the perfect hangover cure. Then there is the crepes stand where we've customised it to cheese, ham and bacon... And egg. Basically a full-English breakfast in a very thin space.

You’re Bajan but did you know

Christmas is coming and the Dean Martin classic ‘Let it Snow’ is Everywhere I go I see the Christmas flowers blooming – the bright red poinsettia, the delicately yellow ‘Christmas Candle’, looking for all the world just like its wax counterpart, and, best of all, the shimmering snow on the mountain, the closest thing Bajans ever see to the real thing. There is a real buzz in Bridgetown as the Christmas Parade hits the streets. Children are beside themselves as Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and other favourites glide by on the back of brightly-lit trucks. A few treats are dispensed en route and, in return, parents give donations to the Barbados Cancer Society, which organises the extravaganza. Christmas Day dawns and my family and I don our finest formal clothes and head first for church and then to Queen’s Park in Bridgetown. The Christmas morning promenade in Queen’s Park is a quintessential Bajan tradition and one of the biggest annual gatherings on the island. The sight that greets us there is enormously colourful and vibrant. Everyone is dressed up to the nines – a lady in a golden dress, hat and shoes clutching a matching handbag; six young men in identical sky blue suits and sombreros; pretty little girls in pearly-white dresses. Besides all the sartorial splendour, there are vendors selling snowcones, toys and balloons while the Royal Barbados Police Force Band is playing Christmas Carols on the ornate bandstand and tourists are having their photos taken beside the giant 250-yearold Baobab tree, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Barbados’. Off with the glad rags now and down to the beach. As we frolic in the warm ocean waters, we really begin to believe that God is a Bajan!

Did you know: Our highest rated acai bowl on the island is at ArtSplash. The croissants they serve are from The Cliff Bakery. Their coffee is Lavazza.

Touch Saturday Nights at Primo

Narrated in an infectious upbeat rhythm, Absolutely Barbados follows the fiercely curious author around the island as he explores and There's a bump-up happening in St Lawrence Gap ofnow andlifestyle, Primo seems embraces every aspect Barbados’ culture and heritage, meetingopened a host of beguiling along the to be a part of this. The Cin Cin owners this characters restaurant toway. bring

either on holiday or to work on this gem of the Caribbean Sea.

Well now we know. They really are positioned at the mouth of the Gap and they deliberately built an outside lounge/bar area that opens onto Also showcasing The Magnificent Seven of Barbados – the street. If anything this really isn't a very Cin Cin thing to do and, Attractions, Views, Wonders, Beaches and until scrumptious now, they never really used it properly. Bajan Recipes. Recommended restaurants and watering holes are featured throughout.

If you go there on a Saturday night you will see how well it works. The DJs change every week and there is a whole free-shooters option for VIPs and then there's an all inclusive ticket so you can go and just, stay. The one element that we find crucial here is that there is a really good mix of people. Once you've been to a few of these night-outs you find yourself faced with the same people and it gets tiring but this is where they score big. As with all new ventures, good luck from us and we'll see you there. primobarandbistro.com

One man’s mission to discover the heart and soul of a Caribbean paradise

a Cin Cin experience down to the South Coast and we always wondered Julian’s compelling story will enchant, amuse and enlighten anyone why they did it in the Gap. who lives in Barbados, Bajans abroad and all those who come to visit

JULIAN ARMFIELD

Author and BBC broadcaster Julian Armfield came to Barbados for ten days, met and married a Bajan beauty, and stayed forever. He quickly discovered that life on a vibrant Caribbean island was going to be hugely different to that in a sleepy English village.

JULIAN ARMFIELD One man’s mission to discover the heart and soul of a Caribbean paradise

Our Christmas story is taken from Julian Armfield’s best-selling book, ‘Absolutely Barbados’ Top Ranking Barbados eBook in Caribbean Travel on Amazon In bookshops and Best of Barbados outlets for $45 Also available as an ebook on Kindle, iBooks and Nook! December 2016

taste this

13 59 at Port Ferdinand If you've ever driven past Port Ferdinand, you will notice that there is a sign outside that says Open To The Public. The truth is that until you've been it's an intimidating place to even talk about. And we know that they know this because why else would you have to put up a sign like that?

Once you have passed the gate, it's not intimidating at all. It's beautiful. We the vibe from the outside but we have always been interested in content, not cover. We know the restaurant quite well and their last chef, Andy Turner, created an excellent foundation that just didn't get enough coverage. The creativity was excellent and the ingredients and depth of flavour were unmatched on the island. It's less expensive than Lone Star and the creativity and finesse is of what leaves the kitchen cleanly outdoes The Cliff. The new team at 13/59 are bringing in a new edge. Kevin Shawcross has been French-trained and has been flown in from Toronto to take us in December 2016

a new direction. He is narrowing down what most other restaurants do. If you have kept up with us over the past year you will see how much we don't understand the idea that every restaurant tries to serve every type of food to make everyone happy. Being able to walk into a restaurant and order a Thai green curry, sushi, pizza and some fish cakes drives us nuts. The business side of it is a nice theory because you don't know what kind of tourists are going to walk through that door... But be good at something!

coherence, it's because he feels the same way. So the menu is going to have a Bajan-French slant. French cuisine is a food of the

So when Kevin says that he wants the menu to actually have a flow and

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peasantry. In fact most of the great food from around the world started in poverty where families had to make do and make it good. All of the

taste this traditional food that we love on our rock came from the people and can't be expensive to make because they never had the chance to develop an expensive recipe. The idea is to bring French cooking styles to the Bajan menu. Not a fusion with all the countries from around the world, just French influence. Their Thanksgiving Menu has a mix right down the middle. Bajan spiced lamb shank with ratatouille and creamy polenta or the roast ham with grilled pineapple and pomme purée. Suddenly it's easier

to understand what we're saying. They still serve their homemade sourdough with magical butter and walking around their kitchens showed us that they can make everything... Including candy floss. So that's it? There's a Canadian in the kitchen? Well actually the souschef is Tamesha Warren from Christ Church and she was trained up in the US before coming back to Barbados. Top Chef contestant and decorated with gold and silver medals from the American Culinary Federation, she is back home and this means that our lives will taste better. The plan wasn't to be back home

but now that she's here she knows she belongs. She told us a story about how she never enjoyed eating dishes like coucou as a child but now loves it. Add a few more dishes to the conversion basket and what you have is a young woman who is using her grand-mother's recipes to make it to perfection. If you have ever seen Disney's Ratatouille you will remember that when people taste the ratatouille he makes, they all get flashbacks that take them back to their youth. That's exactly what happened to Tamesha.

are going to be the best you can find, the flavours as deep and rich as they go and it's in the place that we all once thought was scary. If there is one time you should go, let it be the Independence lunch... You will probably even be able to expense it!

Their Independence Day buffet menu is going to be as traditional as they can make it. The ingredients

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When we asked the chefs what they really wanted, it was to be the best upscale restaurants Bajans want to go to. They wish people didn't see them as a destination for tourists in the high season and they are turning everything around to do it well.

Mount Gay Restaurant We’re going to let you in on a little secret. Are you ready? Ok, here it goes: THERE IS MORE TO MOUNT GAY THAN RUM. There is foood! Head chef and owner of La Cuisine Gourmande, Elisabeth Lecrenney, serves up an à la carte lunch that is a fusion of traditional Bajan and international food, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is a buffet lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It's in the Spring Garden Mount Gay Centre that we drive past all the time... The difference is that you have to actually go inside. The grilled fish was awesome but they told us that they change the menu every month so at least the catch of the day won't be Mahi-Mahi until the end of time.

If you do get a hankering for some rum, and it’s hard not to when you're there, they have a bar which opens at 10am. You can get cocktails served up by top bartender and Mixologist Ryan Adamson. It wasn't long before they started trying to make us food and rum pairings but those were only Mondays and Saturdays. Look out for some French, Barbadian and Guyanese inspired Christmas specials from Chef Lecrenney, as well as some Christmassy cocktails from Adamson that are sure to get you into the... Spirit (babbom psssssht)!

If you think we need to talk about an awesome place that you loved, send us an email magazine@ilovethisrock.com We

mountgayrum.com

thrive

new,

different,

freshness to play with.

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December 2016

Mazda BT50 Reviewed It's

We found the smallest and biggest Bajans we knew to test drive the Mazda BT50. It's a car so big you can fit twelve fully-grown horses in the driver's seat and three oil tankers in the back. That's not true. But it's definitely a chunky car. But is it so chunky that it's only made for the big and strong? Is it so high up that you can't see other cars because they look like ants? And most importantly... does it make you look hot or not?

big.

Andrea Smallest Bajan we know

Nick

Biggest Bajan we know

Current Car: Nissan Sonata

Current Car: Suzuki Grand Vitara

Single, 28 Years Old

Married, 35 Years Old

Loves: My Family

Loves: Movies, food, the beach, good book.

Gets Irritated by: Ungratefulness

Gets Irritated by: Traffic & The Hiccups

Handling

It had precise steering, stability control which was made me feel safer as a smaller woman handling a bigger vehicle.

Handled like a car despite its size.

Exterior

Very sleek and macho but nothing I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle! Oh... Rims!

Exterior has some good lines. One of the better looking trucks on the road.

Interior

The cabin was roomy and seats were comfortable. The height & lumbar adjustments made it easy for me to reach the pedals :)

Comfortable interior. Nice design aesthetic. Upholstery has a nice feel to it.

Sound System

The audio control settings on the steering wheel were helpful and the phone connectivity through the bluetooth was clear and crisp.

Didn't get to crank the sound system, but it seemed decent.

Technology

I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decide if the reverse camera that appears in the rear view mirror or the tiptronic 4-wheel drive was more enticing.

Bluetooth connected readily for the handsfree but would have been good for music. Monitor for reverse in the mirror is really convenient.

Day-to-Day

Great for getting around the island and over the potholes! Roomy enough for a family, a work truck with all the men or a night out with a group of friends.

Parking might be a bit difficult given the size, but it's comfortable enough for day to day use.

Overall

Plenty of power and good on fuel consumption, what more could you ask for?! :)

Out of 10, it's a solid 8.

December 2016

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Review

What we tested:

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Reverse Camera in Central Mirror

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6-Speed Automatic with Tiptronic

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Rain Sensing Wipers and Automatic Headlights

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Bluetooth for Telephone

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17 Inch Alloys

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Traction Control & Anti Hill-Slip

December 2016

what's on this december

CAROLS AT THE ABBEY - 18th

St Nicholas Abbey is over 350 years and was purchased by the Warrens because they believed they could preserve its heritage and bring it to the next generations to come. The Carols at The Abbey is an annual fundraising event that they hold around Christmas where the Barbados Police Band perform Christmas carols for us to sing along to. As with tradition, everyone should bring a wrapped present with them so that an underprivileged youngling can celebrate Christmas too. Be sure to write down what age and gender the gift is suitable for. $25 Adults $5 Children

Carols by Candlelight - 11th There is nothing like Carols by Candlelight to get you into the Christmas spirit. Every year, the Rotary Club of Barbados holds the event at Ilaro Court where everyone comes together on the grassy slopes of the gardens for a show featuring December 2016

some of our best talent. Last year we had King Bubba and some of our smallest, The Mustard Seed Kids. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the biggest and best family events in Barbados where the young and old turn out in their thousands. You should bring a blanket to sit on

and an umbrella in case of showers because at the end of the day, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fully outdoor event. Everyone gets handed a candle in an old plastic bottle-top and when the time is right everybody lights them so that the hill becomes a shimmering

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Christmas spectacle. One word of advice, get there early enough to find a good space on the grass. Ilaro Court, $40

advent

we have created an advent calendar for the 24 days to christmas. This means you can go to all of these places on each day and they will do something special for you. The rules are simple. 1. Turn up on the right day. 2. Shout I LOVE THIS ROCK. 3. Enjoy the magic. 4. When it's over it's over. - 11 -

December 2016

nd Cin cin

Everyone who has lunch at Cin Cin and shouts I LOVE THIS ROCK (or presents this cutout) gets a compimentary Amuse Booze cocktail. T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

th Standard Furniture

When you spend $50 or more, they will serve you Afternoon Tea between 3pm and 5pm for free. T&C's One per receipt, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

th Tiki Pies

th Pepenero

When you shout I LOVE THIS ROCK (or present this cutout) you will receive a Bajan Lemonade on the house for every pizza ordered.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

rd Bombas

For every drink you order, Bombas want to match it with their special Rum Punch. T&C's At the discretion of the lovely owners who will eventually draw the line. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

6 Daphnes Daphne's are offering you a free Watermelon Martini for every starter or main course ordered when you shout I LOVE THIS ROCK (or present this cutout). T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

tapas

Every time you order a Bajan Invasion cocktail and shout I LOVE THIS ROCK (or present this cutout) Tapas will offer you free Shrimp Chips.

When you shout I LOVE THIS ROCK (or present this cutout) you Tiki Pies will offer you a free mini Apple Pie for every normal pie purchased. T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

Apsara 12 Cafe 195 10 Golden 11 Anchor When you order food at Golden Anchor, they will serve you five of their massive Fish Cakes on the house. Don't forget to shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or at least present this cutout. T&C's One per table, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

December 2016

Lamb lovers who order a Lamb Hyderabadi Ghosh will receive a free Garlic Naan... As long as you shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or present this coupon.

The new Cafe 195 near the Massy Dome is offering 2-for-1 coffees for the first 100 people who shout I Love This Rock... Or present this cutout.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

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th Terasu Kafe

th ANIMAL FLOWER CAVE

Free mini Pesto Pasta of the Day with any food ordered. Also a free Deputy if you can prove that you're staying at the Accra Hotel opposite. Customers are expected to shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or present this cutout.

Order the Pickled Conch or Seacat and receive their homemade Rum Punch or Lemonade. Just remember to shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or present this cutout.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

th RELISH

th WENDYS

If you order the Chef's Special today, Relish will offer you their Christmas Sangria on the condition you shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or present this cutout.

Today only, Wendy's will be handing out a free Pigtail for everyone who spends $15 with them. As long as you shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or present this cutout.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

th GREEN MONKEY CHOCOLATIER

th 13-59 at Port Ferdinand

Order the Gnocchi and Braised Oxtail apetiser and get any Mount Gay cocktail on the house.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

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For every three chocoates you order, Green Monkey will offer you a forth: The Hazelnut and Cocoa Nibs chocolate. Must shout I LOVE THIS ROCK or present this cutout.

T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date.

th DE ROCK RUMSHOP

Order their Fresh Chicken Sandwich today and owner, Patricia, will serve you up her homemade Rum Punch. T&C's One per customer, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid only on this date. - 13 -

December 2016

What's On

Paddle Board From Home When you want to be on the sea you want to be on the sea. So far Paddle Barbados has always been the best place to pick up some boards but now they're delivering. We aren't making this up - they want you to paddle. Give them a call and ask if they can deliver to you so that you can keep the board all week and they will pick it up at the end. Easy.

The obvious advantage is that you can paddle - stop - paddle - stop - paddle - stop... And that's actually how you become really good. Enough people have passed through claiming they're

Mojo's Birthday

When a place like Mojo's becomes such an institution and a part of our every week we forget just how much it means to us. 1st December Mojo's is celebrating its 18th birthday and at the time of press they were still deciding what to do but it will definitely have something to do with drinks offers. If I were coming of age like Mojo's I December 2016

good paddle boarders! They suck! So don't suck. Get your act together. To the best of our knowledge they will deliver anywhere down the south or west coasts and, unless you're Louis XVI, you have free reign. Unless you break the board... It's fair to assume they won't appreciate that. Almost free reign. You hear that Louis? Almost. paddlebarbados.com +1(246)249-2787 $60 Daily

would want to have a boozy party too. But this isn't the USA so no one here really had to wait for an age of anything to drink. Come, be merry and bring your birthday hats. facebook.com/mojobarbarbados

The Globe Drive-In Going to the Globe Drive-In is like stepping back in time. Not much has changed from its original setup in the early 90s with Whitney music playing before the movies. It just adds to the retro feel. Watching movies under the stars, though, never gets old.

You can go in any car, in fact you can even walk in the Drive-In. There are benches close to the screen as well as by the cafeteria. The absolute best way to enjoy it however would be to go in a pick-up and bring comfy cushioning for the tray and a portable radio (so that you can adjust the volume without having to get up). The vibe is super relaxed and fun and when you’re lucky the moviewatching enthusiasts start honking at the good parts.

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There is a cafeteria and snackette which serve the usual hot dogs, hamburgers and popcorn you can also get non-conventional but Bajan-essentials like flying-fish and soft-serve ice-cream. It's a great place to go with your family or a group of friends. You should also probably check the weather forecast before going because… Well because rain that’s why! For $15 you can watch two movies (as theatre prices go that’s pretty fantastic). Showtimes can be found on the Globe Drive-In’s hilarious website or posted on the sign board as you drive in. globedrivein.com

What's On Icetopia

If you haven't already heard about the outdoor ice-skating in Barbados youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve clearly been living in a hole (or abroad... But you have the internet so there are no excuses). The story is that an Italian guy called Pablo didn't want to be in the restaurant business anymore and then had a genius idea. Mock it all you like - his business is packed most nights... Every day of the week! During interviews, he talks about opening up many more around the island and then he will be taking his concept to the rest of the Caribbean. Now to answer the pressing questions that we know are burning in your loin. It's not ice at all but they are definitely ice-skates. He has found a type of plastic that mimics ice. It's not cold, it's not wet, it's just plastic and it works. Herein lies two commercial advantages. Firstly, he doesn't need to keep the plastic cool so his air conditioning bill is zero. Secondly, it means he doesn't have to use huge amounts of water. In a drought-stricken country like ours that's a big deal. Does it work well? Yes. It's open from 5pm to about midnight most nights of the week and we would even recommend booking in advance.

$7 Per Person Wildey Business Park +1(246)537-6936

Classical Pops

If you've heard any of your favourite songs renditioned by a full-blown orchestra you have an idea of what's coming to Barbados. It's that awesome blend of radio play and a classical orchestra that makes you think you would have LOVED piano lessons if your music teacher had let you play fun stuff. Last year the show was completely sold out and quite right too. The Great Gabby was accompanied by strings and brass and brought the house down. This year's theme is Carmen to Claus... Which means every song on Earth is a candidate. Heather Headly, David Miller. 9th & 10th December $178 Day Pass $40 VIP Day Pass $230 2-Day Pass $550 VIP 2-Day Pass

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December 2016

Where music&money meet

December 2016

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Blood and CASH Anderson Armstrong grew up in The Pine as the little guy in his group. He was musical from the very beginning and walking home one day he found himself standing face-to-face with the Mighty Gabby. Conversation took no time to strike and before he knew it he was invited to audition at some try-outs. Even his school teacher told him, when he was just 13, that he had a future in music. These were my school days and after performing The Fly and the Cockroach, I took my cassette back home. I thought there was a mistake because this one said Young Blood on it. I never wrote Young Blood. I put the tape in and, then it clicked - it was the right tape, he probably forgot my name so just wrote Young Blood down.

And that's where the name came from. So we had to ask... Is that why these days you're just called... Blood? Yes! Mr Blood, Blood and a half but never Old Blood. Age is in the heart and if you feel fresh, act fresh and speak fresh, it's because you are fresh. So here we are with the legend from Square One who became the natural leader in everything he did despite the fact that he was the smallest guy there. And he's not even that small so we can only wonder who he was hanging out with. Most of the interviews we hold with musicians come back to how it's possible to make a living if you're a musician. He wasn't so good at taking instructions but that worked to his favour. He built up his own recording studio and the music was doing well so he could produce for other people. He had the tools he needed and now he was using everything at his fingertips. There is no doubt that music can come and go like fashion so you better be prepared. Blood worked on a lot of tracks with his own money. He would work with younger kids who couldn't do everything on their own so that he could really help them become what they deserved to be. And it's people like this that take the time to welcome new fresh blood into the industry; to encourage them, to motivate them and to help them develop. Give and thou shalt receive.

December 2016

entrepreneurship Business and Music

That first year was amazing and Blood made tracks that all the bigwigs in the music industry frowned upon. He called it Bootleg because it was in the peak of digital music piracy. He made a CD that went around for cheap because that's what the listeners were going for. So of course he was going to ruffle some feathers. All of those people who knew best and who had all the experience were telling him that he was going in the wrong direction. He didn't listen, he just ploughed on and the results were huge. This is a time when Blood became a big industry name. His ability to mix, produce, perform and go commercial. Even against the tide of industry know-how. What had happened is that he had understood his audience. He addressed the issue by going street and it paid off.

is anyone supposed to survive? Square One took ten years to make their break. How does anyone last ten years without giving up? That's a tenacious ten years regardless of who you are. It's not that efforts aren't made but more needs to be done. Currently 60% of all radio airplay is supposed to be Bajan music and not one of us will stand up to defend that claim. The law is a nice thing

On the basis that we're an entrepreneur who wants to change the entire world to get what we want, we have to make sure there is a flow from zero to hero. Are kids getting enough musical education? There are programmes that exist today that haven't existed before. BCC is an obvious place to start and they have courses now that no one had years ago. We also have initiatives like Operation Triple Threat, that we wrote about last

international. Now does this mean that Barbados has to have a government funded operation that will pay for young artists to grow? No. And frankly, their track record suggests that if they did we would suddenly end up with three and a half calypso artists reviving melodies from the ages of yonder. Forget that time machine. God has given us one direction and that direction is forward. By tweaking legislation to promote

And there is a reflection on this too. When the next tracks were produced, Blood took the time to listen to the industry leaders. He wanted to move away from that whole Bootleg idea because it was time to get serious... And it did nowhere as well as the first. So if anyone is ever going to tell you to follow your heart this is a pretty good place to start. More than that, listen to your audience. And don't make music for musicians!

Change the world

There is a common thread that we find in entrepreneurs. When something in the world is stopping you from accomplishing what you're doing, change the whole world. Structural inefficiencies in the music industry? Change the music industry. Blood is an active member of COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and has lobbied for legislation to change. Even if we look at things in their most simple form it's immediately clear that Bajan artists aren't going to make a living in an industry where the formal structure stops them getting paid. Radio-play royalties are critical to musicians and if you so much as delay payments to the artists, life as a musician becomes untenable. It's hard enough to break into a career and make a name for yourself but if the legal framework doesn't help you get paid then how December 2016

but who is the radio police? Now if we step back and realise the extent to which music is a significant part of our economy, why is it that only 10% of our airplay is Bajan? In fact, half of that money goes abroad anyway once the loopholes are used properly.

So why is there such a strong music import bill?

Blood's ten years in Square One was a testament to the idea that you have to become a domestic success before you can take on the rest of the Caribbean, let alone the world. Blood used the example of Ricky Martin - just think of the years he was performing back home in Spanish before any of us had heard of him. Maybe he was called Young Ricky Martin when he started and now he's just Ricky Martin #justsaying.

month, that will educate and train 7-21 year olds in dancing, acting and singing. And then what? Well it turns out that a lot of our most promising talent ends up working as a teller in a bank or even working in a hotel. We are training and educating our youth and now we have to help them turn their passions into a career, not just a hobby. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. There are examples everywhere. If only the Central Bank had realised that other countries also had central banks, maybe they wouldn't have resorted to the hilarious levy that they stuck together in a rush on a Sunday night. Canada is a prime example of a nation that fosters talent and sends it abroad. Celine Dion, Ryan Reynolds, Alanis Morisette, Jim Carrey, DeadMau5 and Justin Bieber all came out of Canada. There is an entire social structure created to boost their talent so they can then go

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and encourage the music industry as a whole. Stop taxing all musical imports and all of the equipment needed to start a studio. Lower all the barriers to entry. Make it simple to create a business as a sole trader and file tax returns. Create an artist's tax exemption and make it cheaper and easier for promoters and organisers to set up concerts. None of this costs anything, it just means changing some tiny laws and refining old ones. Very old ones. Cropover doesn't need to be the only time of year that musicians make money. None of these ideas are new. We just looked around us a little. It's time to grow.

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The festive section

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December 2016

how to celebrate. well. 2nd Street OYN Champagne Street Party

Previously tagged as “The World’s Greatest Street party”, 2nd street Holetown is a great spot to spend OYN. This is literally a stone’s throw away from Lime Grove Mall. As the title implies, the party takes place on the entire street, almost like a classy passa passa? Patrons get the chance to bar hop and party throughout 2nd street. St Lawrence Gap (yes they are still alive) should definitely take a page out of their books – have you ever heard of a bad street party? The final details are still pending at this stage however, in previous years, they have had performances by Spice & Company and Kirk Brown included with the ticket price. Once you are dining at any of the restaurants in 2nd Street, you get discounted entrance to the street party. The establishments that are involved this year are Nishi, The Mews, Spago, Elbow Room, Sitar restaurant and The UFO. Pricing for this year’s event is yet to be confirmed.

Old Year's Night Masquerade

On Christmas Day, The Beach House is serving a traditional festive Christmas Lunch and because it’s coming from a good kitchen we can comfortably predict that it will be good. Just make sure you check for reservations early because Christmas blocks up everywhere. They are also planning an Old Year’s Night dinner on December 31st. In their own words it will be “An evening of dining, entertainment, masks and mischief!” So... A masquerade dinner. That’s what we said! Masks will be provided to protect the guilty (surely we all are?!) as the champagne reception opens at 7pm. They will invariably move us onto dinner until the countdown starts and the west coast fireworks display kicks off. Music? International DJ Emiro. $475 Per Person $100 for Children 12 And Under Christmas Lunch between noon and 4pm

Fusion Rooftop

As soon as you arrive to Fusion Rooftop restaurant you will be greeted with a glass of bubbly. Fusion is ringing in the new year with a five-course meal. There will be live music, a live DJ and best of all, a panoramic view of the best fireworks the west coast has to offer. I mean you will be at the top of Lime Grove mall, so just imagine. For $550 per person you can enjoy the full dining experience; however, if you just want to paaaarrrtttyyy, the after-party is $200 and this includes Merlot/ Sauvignon throughout the night with bar snacks. Spaces are limited for both the dinner and the after party so reservations are a must.

Ascendance - The Boxing Day Kooler Inclusive

Boxing day - the morning after the Christmas night before. If you are a true party animal and you already plan to party on Christmas night – as most Bajans do - then you make your way to UV Vibe’s Ascendance Kooler Party for Boxing Day 2016. The party starts at 3am and will finish at 10am. Location? – shhhhh it’s a secret! As standard, these details will be revealed a few days before the event. Last year patrons were spoiled with choice. There were over ten food stations in addition to the SIX bars, while this year, you can bring your own coolers and your own drinks but of course you still get some goodies included with the ticket price. In their own words, “Breakfast, Shots and Cocktails Guaranteed!” The only restriction on what you can bring in your cooler is no glass bottles. So just pack that cooler to the brim with your own goodies and lime and wukkup till the sun comes up… And even a little longer because at last year’s event, when 10am came, people were still pumping. Their 2015 event had mixed reviews. The majority of patrons had an amazing time however, for patrons who arrived later throughout the morning, there were long delays for shuttle service and hardly any food left. So don’t be on Bajan time, show up to de people place early! Early bird tickets are $120

Old Year’s Night 7pm December 2016

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Elevate Suit & Tie

The event name says it all. This is definitely a very elegant event. Fellas, time to get out that James Bond-esque suit and ladies dress for the red carpet! Elevate Events Live has been doing this since 2010... Well. This has consistently been one of the most anticipated all-inclusive Old Years Night events and usually sells out fast! They usually announce their OYN event when Crop Over is barely out of our systems in mid-august. Throughout the year, they also delivered other branded sold out events like St Tropez and also Lifted. So once the tickets are released for this season, move fast!

What's On

Enchanted Light forest

This year Farley Hill is going to be opened in a way that we've never seen before. It's being decorated with lights everywhere to create a world you can walk through... That eventually leads to a Christmas market. They have planned special effects, lights and sounds to create an immersive experience and they've rated it E for Everyone. Hey we're just the messengers. From what we've understood it is a good idea for girls and boys between the ages of 5 and 16 unless there's an extra penchant for fairies deep into their teens... In which case they should go too. Farley Hill 16th - 31st December

Joy! Barbados

In this season of giving there has been a campaign to encourage young children to have empathy,

to be generous and to help others. They held a Joy To Your World essay competition where they were asked: "How are you bringing Joy to your World? How are you helping your family, neighbour, community? How can we all make Barbados better?" Joy! will be a fun family afternoon at the Searocks Dome in Maxwell next to the Barbados Beach Club. They're going to have face-painting, music, the Purity Photo Booth and other vendors as always. By the end there will be a sunset concert hosted by Caroline Reid featuring Honey Jam alums opening for Nikita and the Leacock Family Singers. If you can, bring non-perishable food items, water and unwrapped gifts for needy families. 4th December, 3pm $20 Adults $10 Under 16s Free for Under 10s

Rum & Koke

26th December is renowned for its quiet emptiness. So much so that the biggest conversation is how amazing it is that there's no traffic. So our homebred comedians Chrispen Hackett (Rum) and Simon Alleyne (Koke) are putting on a Boxing Day show to fill this gap and fill the gap they will. In addition to Rum & Koke there will be performances from Trevor 'Dynamite' Eastmond, Picong with Adrian Clarke, Sunrock and Yolanda. Did we mention there's an after party? There's an after party.

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Mahalia's Christmas corner

If you've ever been to a Mahalia's Corner you'll know that so much talent gets rubbed in your face that no amount of soap can help you recover. From the open mics to the famous and the unknown, it's an outing that you never really forget. Now add some cinnamon and spice and you have the Christmas edition. Details are scant as we go to press but keep a constant eye on their Facebook because the tickets will go fast when everything is announced.

$75

11th December

Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre

facebook.com/MahaliasCorner December 2016

celebrate Cliff Beach Club

Instead of dinner, for Old Year's Night, The Cliff Beach Club is hosting a party to bring you into 2017. The party will be from 9pm to 3am. The cost is $750 per person and this will include canapes, full open bar (yes you read that correctly FULL OPEN BAR), wine & champagne, fireworks, party favours and DJ Chilly for the entertainment.

THE PARTY by Harbour Lights

Every single week Harbour lights hosts multiple events at their Bay street location so an OYN party this year was expected - it’s what they do. The location is Indian Pond in St Joseph so it’s a little out there. At the bar you can get champagne, shots, coffee and espressos. There will be two dance floors and entertainment will be by Jaipur featuring DJ Rebel and other select DJ’s. They promise music from the 80s, the 90s as well as current music. And of course, phenomenal fireworks at midnight.

made right here

$235 for the first 400 tickets

Tides Restaurant

THE TIDES RESTAURANT has outdone themselves this year. For Old Years night, they have – not a three-course or a five-course meal but a SEVENcourse meal for dinner. Chef Guy Beasley, who is also the owner, will be preparing this dinner at $950 per person and this includes party favours, a balloon drop when the clock strikes 12, a firework display and DJ entertainment until 2am.

Midnight Brunch by Jin Forde

It's a twist on the most popular way to dine on Old Years Night. Patrons are invited to gather at 10pm and, once midnight strikes, food will be served and the party continues. Main courses are pre-ordered when you pay for your ticket but the desserts and appetizers are buffet style. There will also be bottomless mimosas (where do I sign?!) sangria and mojitos as well. Dress code is strictly black so Midnight brunch aspires to be a simply elegant all black soirée to ring in the new year. Try something different this year!

NISHI - Xmas Eve and NYE

On Christmas Eve, you can dine at Nishi in 2nd Street, Holetown. They have a carols night planned so while you dine, a small choir comes in to sing. Even though they are still serving their regular menu, they also have a few Christmas add-ons such as mulled wine, Christmas crackers and English minced pies. For Old Years night, you will be greeted with a glass of champagne and this precedes a five-course dinner and live music by Virtuosity. $560 per person

December 2016

We went looking for the little things that are made here, on this rock. We found some obvious things and some seriously weird things but by the end we found a little collection of special things. The one thing that topped our list was the driftwood Christmas trees. Not saying that pricey imported Christmas trees that die in a month aren’t cool, just saying that these babies are soooooo much cooler. At a time when there is raging debate about whether the mass cutting down of fir, pine and spruce trees or the manufacturing of artificial trees is worse for the environment, driftwood trees come out a clear winner. The wood used in Chattlewood’s creations is locally sourced driftwood and reclaimed chattel house wood. Which means you can feel good about the minimal environmental impact as well as buying local. They cost more than the real trees up front and we haven’t quite worked out the transportation logistics (do we tie them to the roofs of our cars?), but they’ll be one of those gifts that keep on giving and they tend to say “Caribbean” a bit more than a North American pine. You can get standing trees ranging from 2-7 feet tall and what Chattelwood's designer, Lynne Williams, calls “Table Top Trees” which are mini pre-decorated trees that make great centre pieces and work well for sideboards. You can also get small medium or large trees that hang on the wall. Don't stick to the less environmentally friendly options and imports this year (see what we did there? Stick?) start looking them up and get one before they're all gone. facebook.com/chattelwood Contact Lynne on 262-4227.

Bajan Cherry have gone from strength to strength year after year and they're pulling off designs that make Chelsea Roett look even more awesome. They're all super hot and they were designed so you can actually do stuff in the water without everything coming off all the time. There's nothing we can tell you that you don't already know so go pick at their showroom in Bridgetown. bajancherry.com

Still in surfergirl territory, Sarah Cole from Paddle Barbados has started making Fabulous hair ties for tresses. They're perfect stocking fillers and they're handmade in Barbados with love and sandy feet. Now what do we all know about hairbands? They spend as long on our wrists as they do in our hair so when you take this off it turns into a bracelet that you actually want to wear. Put a bunch on at the same time and you're as good as gold. Available at Paddle Barbados, $15 for 4 Hair Ties

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December 2016

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